Banana Cookies

sift together:
2 1/2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

Mix together:
2/3 c. mashed banana (I use 2 or 3 bananas.)
1 t. vanilla
1/3 c. canned milk

put in bowl:
2/3 c. shortening. Gradually add 2/3 c. sugar. Beat in 2 eggs, one at a time. Stir in 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/3 of the banana mix, alternating until all is used. Add 1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes.

This fun and rich Halloween Tradition is my family's favorite at the Chilcote's, which we haunt every Hallow's Eve. Sharla has made us dinner for at least the past 14 years (minus one when we decided to take Halloween out on our own with my father-in-law's train) My favorite is her Tortellini Soup but that's a whole other post. This year she entrusted me to make her specialty. I was very nervous but it passed!

Sharla's Vegetable Cheese Soup

Cook Veggies

1 chopped onion

1 small bag of baby carrots

3 celery sticks, chopped

4 lg potatoes, peeled & cubed

Put in stock pot and cover just barely with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until just cooked.

Cook a bag of Petite Peas separately. Cook a bag of frozen broccoli separately.

In another pan

3 cubes butter

1 c flour

Melt butter and slowly add flour to make a rue. Add chicken boullion or paste for flavor, blend thoroughly. While making rue, heat 1 1/2 quarts of half and half in microwave (about 4-5 minutes) Slowly mix warm half and half into rue. The ad 1 15oz jar of Cheese Whiz (found on aisle with dry parmesean) Slowly add juice from the main pot of veggies to right consistency.

Put drained veggies in crockpot - pour cheesy soup over top and mix. This makes 2 crockpots full.

Bento Box Craze!!!!

Just in time for Back to School . . .

Thanks to my friend, Becky, there is a new craze in our little town!

BENTO BOX LUNCH

Home lunch will never be the same!

My children no longer want school lunch (sorry, nice, lunch ladies). They want fun. Becky's children come to school with the cutest little lunches you ever saw and they're nutritious, to boot!

Here are some photos I snatched off of a website called Laptop Lunches (permission is granted). When you have some time, check out their gallery AND their suggestions like their Quick Reference Guide. They are full of ideas!

Another company out there is Easy Lunch Boxes. (They have fun photo ideas as well). I would love to order some of their boxes - 4 for $13.95 but the shipping is $8.95 no matter how many order - SO if any of my friends want to order with me I would love to split the shipping with someone or as many someones as I can find! . . .

Other websites include: Lunch in a box and Out of this world ideas! (some people have all the time in the world)

Pottery Barn sells cute boxes

A little history behind the Bento via Wikipedia:

Bento (弁当 bentō^?) is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. Containers range from disposable mass producedto hand crafted lacquerware. Although bento are readily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops, train stations, and department stores, it is still common for Japanese homemakers to spend time and energy for their spouse, child, or themselves producing a carefully prepared lunch box.

So - give a little extra love to the family - send them out the door with a Bento!

Bean Salsa

16 oz. shoe peg corn

15 oz. black eyed peas

15 oz. pinto beans

15 oz. black beans

2 oz. pimento (I didn't have this)

1 green or red pepper, chopped

1 small purple onion, chopped

2 jalapenos, chopped

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

sauce:

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 TB water

1/4 c olive oil

3/4 c cider vinegar

3/4 c sugar. Mix and add to beans & such

Thanks Jen! I could have eaten this like soup!

Frito Salad

Asian Brown Rice Salad

3 c cooked brown rice

1/2 c chopped red pepper

6 thinly sliced green onions

1/2 chopped cilantro

1/4 c slivered or sliced almonds

1/2 - 1 c mandarin oranges

2 c cooked, chopped chicken breasts

1/2-3/4 c low fat Asian salad dressing (Newman's Own Lowfat Sesame Ginger)

Toss heated rice with all other ingredients. Serve warm.

Thanks Christine!!! I ate my leftovers for lunch and I wish I had some for dinner, too!

Bow-Tie Pasta Salad

6 cups diced cooked chicken (approx 3 pounds frozen)

12 oz bag bow-tie pasta cooked and drained, al dente

1 bunch (medium) green onions, sliced

16 oz Kraft Coleslaw dressing (pourable)

2 cups mayonnaise

1 large can pineapple tidbits, drained

2 cup chopped celery

1 lb red grapes, halved

4-5 granny smith green apples

1 pkg almonds, slivered (12 oz)

Combine first 5 ingredients and chill overnight. Prior to serving add the last 5 ingredients.

Thanks Bonnie! Delicious!